Self-waiting lunch-counter



No. 751,681. PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904. v

T. F. PHILIPPI. SELF WAITING LUNCH COUNTER.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 24.1903. HO MODEL. v 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

5 Maw ATTORNEY T: npnm mus co woraumo, summon. n. c.

PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904.

T. F. PHILIPPI.

SELF WAITING LUNCH COUNTER.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 24,1903.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

HO MODEL.

/ N VE N 70/? A TTORNE) PATENTED FEB. 9, I904.

T. P. PHILIPPI. SELF WAITING LUNCH COUNTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1903.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented February 9, 196 1.-

THEODORE F. PI-IILIPPI, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SELF-WAITING LUNCH-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,681, dated February9, 1904. Application filed July 24, 1903. Serial No. 166,882. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE F. Pnrmrri, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Self- W aiting Lunch Counters, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in self-waitinglunch-counters; and it consists in the novel construction of countermore fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of the device withcondiment-shelf omitted, being virtually a section on line 1 1 of Fig.2. Fig. 2 is a combined section and elevation on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4cis a rear end elevation. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5 ofFig. 6, showing detail of one of the tilting tables. Fig. 6 is an endview of the table. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of one of the travelingtray-supporting sec tions. Fig. 8 is an end elevation showingWire-screen door closed. Fig. 9 is a top plan. Fig. 10 is a perspectiveof one of the links of the drive-chain for the tray-supporting sections.Fig. 11 is a plan of one of the trays. Fig. 12 is a section on line 1212 of Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is a transverse section on line 13 13 of Fig.2, showing idlers for supporting the laps of the conveyer-belt.

The object of my invention is to construct a lunch-counter contiguous towhich shall be located a conveyer for delivering the food to the dinersseated along the counter, such conveyer being divided into a series ofsections or compartments each designed for delivering a meal of selectedarticles to suit the taste of the diner, special provision being madefor access to any compartment as the same passes in front of the personseated at the counter.

A further object is to insure provision for returning the dishes at theconclusion of the meal back to the kitchen or any place available fortheir removal.

The device, in effect, becomes a self-waiting lunch-counter, dispensingwith waiters altogether, as will more fully appear from a detaileddescription of the invention, which is as follows:

Referring to the drawings, F represents a suitable oblong counter-framecomposed of a series of standards 1 1, cross-bars 2, brackets 3, andenveloping gas-pipe 4L, by which the several operating parts aresupported. Disposed around the frame and mounted to the gas-pipe 4 are aseries of tilting tables 5,1iormally held locked in a horizontalposition while the diner is seated at the table. In front of each tableis a seat S of the usual design. Disposed longitudinally along the frameF, on each side of the center line thereof, are the inner rails ortracks 6 and the outer endless rails or tracks 7, along which areadapted to travel a chain of linked tray supports or sections 8, eachtray-support being mounted on two pairs of rollers 9 10, respectively,traveling on the aforesaid rails, the rollers 9 traveling on the innerrails 6 and the rollers 10 traveling on the outer endless rail or track7. The tray-supports are linked together by a sprocket-chain O, to.which motion is imparted at one end by a sprocket-wheel 11, mounted atone end of the frame F, said sprocket having connected thereto aworm-wheel 12, to which rotation is imparted by a worm-pinion 13 on thedrive-shaft 14, at one end of which is secured a belt-pulley 15, towhich power is communicated through a belt 16 from a suitable motor M..The opposite end of the chain O passes over a sprocket-wheel 11, mountedat the opposite end of the frame F. The closed ends of the outer track'7 are supported by the arms 17, projecting from the cross-beam betweenthe terminal standards of the general framework F, the drive-shaft 14%being supported by an arm 18, forming a part of the same casting withthe arm 17, Figs. 2, 3, 4.

Each tray-support 8 is provided with an inclined screen door 19, whichis normally locked, but which upon the introduction of a suitable coinor check (sold by the cashier) into the coin-slot 20, Fig. 7, permitsthe door to open, when the diner can draw out the tray T, with the meal,and place the same before him on the table 5, at which he may be seated.The coin-controlled device is shown diagrammatically and not in detail,as the same forms no part of the present invention.

The tray T, with its dishes left after a meal on the table 5, may bedumped onto an endless belt or conveyer 21 by the next patron who maychance to occupy the same table, this being accomplished by thefollowing mechanism: Each table 5 is mounted so as to rock, with itsbearings 22, about the supporting gas-pipe 4:. The table 'is normallyheld supported in a horizontal position by the weighted locking-pawl 23,pivoted below the outer edge of. the table, Fig. 5, the pawl engagingthe eccentric tooth 24 of a collar 25, rigidly clamped to the pipebetween the bearings 22. Upon disengaging the pawl from the tooth 24(see dotted position, Fig. 5) the table, being mounted to one side ofits center of gravity, tilts rearwardly, allowing the tray T, with itsdishes, to slide down the incline 26, the tray finally landing on theconveyer or belt 21, Fig. 4. This belt passes over terminal spool-shapedskeleton drums D D, mounted on suitable bearings within the frame F, theshaft of the drivingdrum carrying a sprocket wheel 27, 1 over whichpasses a sprocket-chain 28, the opposite end of the chain engaging asprocket-pinion 29 on the drive-shaft 14:. At intervals the upper andlower laps of the conveyer-belt are supported on idler-pulleys 30 30',Fig. 13, mounted between standards 31. As the trays reach the rear ofthe conveyer they are deposited on an incline 32, from which they aretaken back to the kitchen to be washed and refilled.

Surmounting the general frame F and overhanging the series oftraysupporting sections and secured to the frame by straps 33 is acondiment-supporting ledge 34, having an inner panel of glass 34: toadmit light from above onto the food carried in the trays and supportedon the sections 8. The whole is capped by an ornamental frieze 35.

To facilitate the withdrawal of the tray T, the latter is provided witha lip 35, by which it may be seized.

Parts shown and not herein specifically referred to are old and wellknown in fixture construction and are not claimed herein.

It is apparent, of course, that the present device is .susceptible ofvarious ornamentations and changes of details; but these would in nowise affect the nature or spirit of my invention.

The operation of the device is apparent from the foregoing description;but as a resume I may state that a person entering the diningroom seatshimself in front of one of the tables, the series of sections 8 withtheir food contents slowly advancing toward him. At the proper moment oras soon as any particular section is within reach the patron depositsthe necessary coin or check into the coin-slot of the particularsection, the screen-door opens, and the tray T may be withdrawn andplaced on the table. The next patron can dump the tray, with its dishes,as previously indicated,

by tilting the table, the tray landing on the endless conveyer, where itis taken back to the kitchen. By reengaging the pawl 23 with the tooth24 the table is again in proper position for use. The entire mechanismmay be timed so as to give ample opportunity to accomplish the purposehere outlined. In turning the corners at either end of the frame F therollers 9 of course momentarily leave the inner rails 6 and pass overthe terminal wheels 11 11, as is obvious.

Any suitable means may be improvised for keeping the meals Warm while onthe tray supports or sections 8, such as a gas-jet, steamcoils, and thelike.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s- 1. A self-waitinglunch-counter comprising a series of tilting tables, a conveyer locatedadjacent thereto for advancing the food along the counter, and a secondconveyer located below the tables, the contents of the tables beingadapted to be deposited on said bottom conveyer by a tilting of thetables in proper direction, substantially as set forth.

2. A self-waiting lunch-counter comprising a series of tilting tables, aseries of linked tray-supporting sections located contiguous thereto,means-for advancing said sections, an endless conveyer located below thetables, and devices for releasing the tables and permitting them to tiltfor depositing the trays onto said conveyer, substantially as set forth.

3. A self-waiting lunch-counter comprising a series of tilting tables,means for normally holding said tables locked in a horizontal position,a chain of linked tray-supporting sections adapted to be advanced alongsaid tables, a conveyer located below the tables and disposed centrallythe length of the counter, inclines leading from the tables toward theconveyer, and means for simultaneous advancing the tray-supportingsections and the conveyer, substantially as set forth.

4. A self-waiting lunch-counter comprising a series of tilting tables, aconveyer located adjacent thereto for advancing the food along thecounter, and separate means for receiving the objects discharged fromthe tables upon a proper inclination of the latter, substantially as setforth.

5. A self-waiting lunch-counter comprising a suitable counter, aconveyer located adjacent thereto for advancing the food along thecounter, a conveyer located below the counter, and means formechanically discharging the dishes from said counter to the bottomconveyer, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE. F. PHILIPPI.

'WVitnesses:

EMIL STAREK, G. L. BELFRY.

